Invention of Airplanes
The first aircraft was invented by the Wright Brothers, Wilbur and Orville. Their fascination to fly started in their childhood. Their father, Milton Wright, who at the time was working in the army, gave them a toy flying machine, which they made replicas and played with. As they grew up they were interested in studying the flying machines and experimented on glides.
The brothers spent a lot of time studying how birds fly and started designing gliders which they tested severally. Around 1902, the brothers flew many test glides and successfully on 17th December 1903, they flew the first manned flight off Kill Devil Hills and from then on, the airplane industry was born. Their invention of the aircraft bowled over everybody.
Although initially flying was considered a sport or hobby, like other inventions at that time, because of its risks, but by 1920’s the airplane industry was springing up. Initially, it led to the revolutionalisation of the Air-Mail and then air freights. Eventually, it changed the way people travel today. Although it took so long to gain popularity among inventors, I think it is still the best invention of the 20th century.
The aircraft is a remarkable invention in the world’s history. Airplanes have really altered the way of life significantly as people save a great amount of time in travelling. They are used to help in emergency situations or on urgent calls, and transport bulky goods.
It were not for airplanes, globalization would still be a dream, we would still be stuck up on the road for days moving from one state to another, and worst of all, flow of information could almost be impossible. Although airplanes have evolved over the years, but the Wright brothers’ invention still remains a genius idea (Wegener 58).
The transportation industry
The transportation industry greatly influences our lives both positively and negatively. Positively, transportation has improved the global economy and social dynamics. It has eased the way we travel, flow of ideas and information, and conducting business transactions. However, the industry has attributed the increasing sound and air pollution from vehicles, airplanes and ships. Vehicles have really congested our cities.
It was the Industrial Revolution that saw the invention of the steam engine, which was used to power ships, trains and motor vehicles. The industrial Revolution led to the invention of power-driven engines used in vehicles, trains and ships, and it also greatly impacted the world’s transportation infrastructure with construction of canals, tarmac roads, railway lines and turn-pike road networks.
The Industrial Revolution increased the population, and there were limited education opportunities and children were required to labor. Child labor was used since it was cheaper than adult labor, and with the invention of new machines there was no need for strong and experienced adult workers.
Children used to work under hazardous, congested and deplorable conditions. It is the bad working conditions that led to the rise of Labor Unions, formed by the workers, which took action to protect the laborers. Labor Unions led to adoption of legislations, which set minimum age limits for child laborers, creation of protection standards and establishment of schools for children (Wegener 156).
Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Edison was a prolific American inventor, scientist and an entrepreneur. He was born in Milan, Ohio in 1847. Edison holds 1,094 United States patents in his name and is credited for many inventions. His main inventions include the phonograph, and the motion picture camera, which led to mass communication.
Even up to date, these devices are still used although they have evolved but Edison still was the genius behind the idea. Edison came up with the model and execution of electric power generation and distribution to homes, companies and industries, an idea that greatly impacted the industrialized world. I think that Edison has done a lot in bring the world to where we are and he deserves this awards.
Work Cited
Wegener, Peter. What makes airplanes fly?: history, science, and applications of aerodynamics. New York: Springer, 1997. Print.